CALL: 1-877-841-9617. To file a weekly certification, odd number SSNs on Monday & Wednesday through Saturday, even number SSNs on Tuesday through Saturday, call: 1-888-372-3453; Public Appeals : 919-707-1060;

Phone Number: 1-877-841-9617. To file a weekly certification, odd number SSNs on Monday & Wednesday through Saturday, even number SSNs on Tuesday through Saturday, call: 1-888-372-3453; Public Appeals : 919-707-1060;

North Carolina Unemployment Questions

How do I file a claim for unemployment?

DES provides three methods for individuals to file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits. Please review the following options for the method which best suits your needs. All three options are available for those individuals who are totally separated from their employment, and wish to apply for benefits.

File Online: this option allows claimants to apply for benefits online. You can file for benefits and register for work in as little as 20 minutes.

File by Telephone: DES provides a toll-free number which allows individuals to file for benefits. Customers can call 1-877-841-9617 (toll-free, 24-hours a day, seven days a week) to file an initial claim.

File in Person:an individual may file a claim for benefits at the nearest DES office.

Employers are responsible for filing attached claims for workers on temporary layoff.

I received separation pay (or pay, wages in lieu of notice, vacation pay, etc.). When should I file a claim?
You are not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits for any full week covered by separation pay, vacation pay, etc. (nor may such a week count as your “waiting period week”). Generally, you should file your claim the first week after the period covered by the payment (if the last week of the payment is not a full week’s pay, you may file that same week, although you possibly will still be ineligible due to excessive earnings).

Can I review the information I have submitted?
Currently our system does not allow you to review your work registration and claim once it has been submitted. If you entered information incorrectly or omitted pertinent information online, contact DES to provide additional information.

Why can I not update my information online?
If you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in the last 4 weeks, information may not be updated online to avoid erroneous claims processing. Contact DES if information needs to be changed.

How much money can I receive from unemployment?
Your weekly benefit amount and the number of weeks of entitlement to benefits are based on the wages you were paid and amount of time you worked during your base period. The exact amount of benefits and the duration of those benefits cannot be determined until you actually file your claim for benefits.

It says something about a “waiting week” in the claims filing information. What am I waiting on?
The “waiting period week” is the first week you file for and are otherwise eligible. You will never receive payment for this first week. It must be claimed to be counted. It does not mean you should wait a week before you file the claim.

How do I find an Appeals Decision pre-notification for a hearing that I attended recently?
Log into the Individual Services secure area. Select Appeals Decision Pre-notification under Inquiries & Information section. A listing of pre-notification(s) will display.

Will I still be able to use the JOBS Line?
Absolutely. The same User ID (your Social Security account number) and PIN gives you access to both the JOBS Line and online filing. You can even file your claim online one week, then file using the JOBS Line the next, and vice versa. Regardless of your filing method, you may still use the JOBS Line to hear job openings.

Will I get my payment sooner if I file online?
The processing of payments is exactly the same whether you file online or by telephone, so if you file by telephone the same day as some one else files online, you both should receive your payments at about the same time. However, online filing does not require staggered Monday/Tuesday filing. So if Monday is your telephone filing day, you can file online one day earlier, or two days earlier if your telephone filing day is Tuesday, by submitting your weekly certification online.

How do I file an appeal?
You can file an appeal to the first and second level decision in person at your local DES office, via mail to DES, attn.:Appeals Department, PO Box 25903, Raleigh, NC27611 or by email to [email protected] Appeals to Commission decisions must be filed via a petition for judicial review the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Commission must be served with copy of such petition.

What should I do if my unemployment payment is late?

View Your Benefit Payment History online or call the DES JOBS Line. Use the DES Office Locator to find the JOBS Line phone number for your location. You should allow 48 hours if you file your continued claims by telephone or 5 days if your employer files your claim(s) for you or you file by mail before checking the status of your claim.

Note: If you are eligible to receive a payment and it does not arrive within 14 days from the date you filed the claim, notify DES.

Questions & Answers

I went to prison in 2011 and I was in the appeal process of my benefits i filed every week I would like to know if I could get those benefits now that Iam out and I am working at a day labor place is there any action that Ican take for back unemployment claims?I never receiveund another hearing because I got locked up.

U may be wrong about that. I spoke with an appeal adjudicator and she informed me that i may still do my appeal as long as i have a reason as to why it wasnt mailed back in time. I may still receive my benefits

Unemployment benefits are available to workers who were laid off. These benefits are funded by the state government using the taxes collected from the employers. Since you have not earned in USA, you aren’t eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

I am being furloughed 4 days a month and losing 20% of my pay due to the sequestration. the furlough will be effective 7/8/13 and is not expected to go into the next fiscal year. Am I able to receive partial employment to help bridge the gap? I am going to lose approximately $600.00 a month. Thank you for your time

If you are working for less than 32 hours a week (in a general case), you are mostly eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Seek partial unemployment benefits if the reduction represents at least 50 percent of a normal 40-hour work week. Mostly, if the pay is significantly cut, then there are chances that you receive unemployment.

You seem to have filed your initial claim. Have you received a determination letter form the unemployment office? This will let you know if you have qualified to receive unemployment benefits from the state. It is necessary to search for job and good you have been doing your part. But, have you filed your weekly / biweekly claims? This is the second part of your unemployment claiming procedure where you are required to report to the unemployment office to let them know you have been unemployed and you are continuing to meet the requirements to receive unemployment benefits.
If you have filed your weekly claims, you might want to check with a claims specialist to know what is delaying your pay.

I have recently been injured and unable to work due to doctors orders. its only a four month recovery so I cannot collect disability or workmans comp since it didn’t happen on the job. am I eligible for unemployment?

If a person earned $3000.00 every month for a year, the weekly benefit amount will be approximately $346.00. If the person is working part time or is receiving severance pay, holiday pay etc, then that amount will be deducted from the weekly benefit amount.

Our son quit a job as a server to move to another job market. He was approved for unemployment benefits. He drew benefits for 3 weeks and was then notified that his benefits were being terminated. Now he is being told that he has to pay back the monies he was paid. How can that be correct when the state approved him to draw benefits?

The state government can withdraw benefits if they find the recipient not suitable. Some document produced might have been wrong or may be some calculation they carried out went wrong for them to withdraw his benefits. You should be able to collect the reasons from them for the same.

I was wrongfully terminated at my job of 2 years. My job is trying to fight me getting unemployment. So I have an active issue on my claim. I’m in the process of finding another job. I’ve still been filing my weekly claim certification even though I have not yet been accepted. My questions are
1. If I do get accepted will I receive UI for the 2 weeks I filed weekly certification but had not yet been approved?
2. If I find a job before I’m accepted and then report that I found a job, will they drop my claim or can they still accept me and give me UI for the 2 weeks I didn’t have a job?

1. If you are approved, you will have to serve a waiting week during which you have to file your weekly claims but you will not receive any payment. This means, out of the 2 weeks you have filed, you have chances of receiving benefits for only one week.

2. Weekly claims enable you to receive benefits for an unemployed week which passed by. So, once it is approved, you will receive benefits at the end of each unemployed week. If you find a job, your claim will be closed.

Please check if the restaurant you worked at paid employment taxes to the state government. This is called covered employment. However, this is only one eligibility requirement and there are many more which will determine your qualification to receive benefits. Since you are getting laid off, you are mostly eligible to receive benefits but you must have earned a minimum amount in your base period. Please check for eligibility requirements and other requirements on our site.

I have a son in the hospital fighting for his life and since he has been in the hospital I have not given proof however I was told that upon my return I have 5 days to produce proof I have not gone back to work and I was denied FMLA and now I am being fired for not providing proof as of yet would I be eligible for UI

I have been working at my current job for 6 years 6 months. I may need foot surgery soon. If I go out on medical leave can I collect unemployment. If not what advice can you give me to do.
Thank you
Elizabeth Price

I was “terminated” after 2 yrs with a company due to “breaking the rules”. I gave information to a customer (believing I was helping them) which a company my company did insurance work for considered a conflict of interest. An employee handbook excerpt was cited as a “rule” to follow. I never for one minute thought I was breaking a rule nor had I ever seen an employee handbook. The employee handbook is totally irrelevant anyway. I would give the same info again to help someone. I would never do anything intentional to jeopardize my employment nor harm the company I worked for. That being said, I KNOW there is more to my termination than that but that seems to be the companies crux for getting rid of me after 2 years. Like I said——-I did nothing I thought was wrongful at all. I really helped a customer without realizing I was going to get fired over it. Will this deny me unemployment compensation?

I was fired for being out sick to much. I offered doctors notes but they would not accept doctors notes saying it did not matter. Also the manager said she would give me a great referance to new employers. Is the determination up to the state or also the employer. I have sever depression and am under doctors care that is why I was out so much.

I have worked for a company for 25 yrs. Work has become slow over the last 3-5 yrs and I have periodocally been signed up for unemployment benefits through my employer. I used to be able to draw if I only worked 18 hrs or less. Boss told me he talked with ESC and was told he could take an average of hours worked and reduce the required hours for drawing unemployment……….what i mean is, I used to able to work 18 or less and draw unemployment, but now he says that has dropped to 12 …..is this legal???

I am currently employed at a company in North Carolina and am the olny women in an office and ove ther past 4 weeks the work enviroment has become hostile. I am afraid to go to work tommorow as the office is on edge and the comments are violant comeents are getting worse. The HR deparment and management know of the issue. And dont seem to be handling the issue. Can I leave the company file for unemployeement as I feel threatened everyday for my saftey.

I am confused because at the top of this page it says that you are eligible if you are under 21 and are a full-time student, but then below it says that you disqualify if you’re attending school. Can someone please explain this to me? I have been unemployed since June, and have applied everywhere and been unable to get a job. I am 19 years old and I start school in January as a college student and I need a job, or money somehow. Do I not qualify?

Our company is shutting down for a week and i would like to file for unemployment benifits for that week. Does doing so effect any future benifit options or your standing with the company. Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

i had to quit my full time retaail sales job due to health reasons. I have not worked since Memorial Day and am having difficulty finding a job. I have never collected unemployment and want to know if I qualify for benefits

My husband has been transferred to another part of NC. I have leave my job of 11 months effective immediately. My company says they will not have any problems with my filing. Will I be eligible? What will I need?

My tier three ended on May 20th 2012. I was told I would only get six weeks of tier four. According to euc extension it states that north carolina without having the eb extension should have 16 weeks of tier four with tier three ending before june. Why would I not be eligible for sixteens weeks of tier four in north carolina?

I have just recently lost my job, aspart of a re-organization(no fault of mine). They gave me a sevence package of 8 weeks. Can I file for unemployment at the same time if I do not get employment? If I can, may i do it online or do I need to come to the office? When can I start filing?

Yes, you are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits as you have lost job through no fault of yours.

You can file online which takes about 20 minutes. When filing for benefits online, you will also have to register for work, so that potential employers can find your resume in a search of the Employment Security Commission’s database.

If you are applying online then it is not required to visit Employment Security Commission Office.

My son recently was laid off from his full time job of 6 months due to lack of work. He applied for NC unemployment and they informed him that his rate for the base period was not enough to file a claim. It looks as if the base period was the fourth quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012. Since his employment began in November 2011 and lasted through July 2, 2012 when should he file to be eligible? His net salary per week was $280.00 per week.

My husband had the same problem, have your son take his last pays tub to the unemployment office and file an appeal to have that quarter added. It may have helped us as this was just done today, we are keeping our fingers crossed 🙂

What happens when a person comes back from surgery, has exhausted all PTO time and FMLA and goes back to work just to find they are unable to do their job because they are still having medical problems? Does that person qualify for unemployment compensation when the employer terminates them?

I will be moving to North Caroline in mid-June. How do I transfer my TN unemployment benefits to NC? Will I need to contact TN first to advise them of my move or once I get to NC, do I file for unemployment benefits with them and NC notifies TN of the move? Also, I have direct deposit – will that also transfer?

My current management position is being eliminated and I have to reapply for a new management postion against the general population. If I’m not offered a new management position can I apply for unemployment benefits? (even if I am offered a part time position?) My pay would probably be significantly reduced given that scenario. Also, what must be considered is that I currently have a part time job elsewhere (about 20 hours weekly along with my full time management job. So, would I be eligible for unemployment if I refuse a part time position at the place that is currently my full time job?